One-shot Wednesday: Bloukopkoggelmander(Blue headed tree Agama)

This guy sat on my outside wall above the kitchen door one day. I took safety measures not to let him jump or fall onto my head. He was still there the next morning. Late afternoon I heard  a soft “plop” and had a look. There he was, as dead as can be, on the steps outside my back door. I think he died of a heart attack!

These males( They have these blue heads in season) love to fight with each other till the end. I think this one just could not take all the fighting anymore. They are territory bound as far as I could see the situation! A younger and stronger one was chasing after this one some days before his death.(This is only my meaning of the situation)

Photo taken in South Africa, Potgietersrus/Mokopane  2008

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An agama is any one of the various small, long-tailed, insect-eating lizards of the genus Agama. The agamid genus is composed of at least 37 species across Africa, where they are the most common lizard. They can be found in many sizes, from 12.5 to 30 cm (5 in. to 1 ft.) in length and a wide variety of colours. One of the best known species is the Agama agama, widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. ForEurasian agamas, see the genus Laudakia.

Agamas originally lived in forest and bush across Africa, but have since adapted to live in villages and compounds where their habitat has been cleared. They live inside the thatch of huts and other small spaces, emerging only to feed. If caught out in the open, agamas are able to run quickly on their hind legs to reach shelter. The desert agama can still be found in the dry areas of North Africa. Despite their name, they avoid bare sand.[1]

Agamas are active during the day and are often found scampering around to snatch up their favorite foods. They can tolerate greater temperatures than most reptiles, but in the afternoon when temperatures reach around 38°C (100°F) they will settle into the shade and wait for it to cool. Frequent fighting breaks out between males; such fighting involves a lot of bobbing and weaving in an attempt to scare the opponent. If it comes to blows, they lash out with their tails and threaten each other with open jaws. Many older males have broken tails as a result of such fights. Females may sometimes chase and fight one another, while hatchlings mimic the adults in preparation for their future.[1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agama_(genus)

11 comments on “One-shot Wednesday: Bloukopkoggelmander(Blue headed tree Agama)

      • Only during mating time mostly in spring or early summer. They start slowly turning blue at the beginning and get more colourful when they get older and later in the season also. It is interesting to see when they start their rituals also. They like to show off. Puffing their sides of their heads and moving heads up and down and if there is another one nearby, they’ll chase each other without end.

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